Hearing Aids: Proper Cleaning And General Maintenance

Many would agree that being able to stay in touch with family, friends, and coworkers has never been more important. Your hearing aids provide an important bridge to maintaining a connection with the world around you, so keeping them at peak performance is key. We understand that in-person appointments may not always be an option. With this in mind, we are sharing some basic at-home tips to help properly maintain your hearing instruments.

A regular cleaning regimen is an easy and cost-efficient way of taking care of your investment. Just as you brush your teeth every day, your hearing aids need daily care.

Cleaning Tools

First, let’s talk about pulling together a “cleaning” tool kit.  You’ll want to collect a couple items from around the house:

• A cloth – Make sure the cloth is soft and always dry; never use water, alcohol, or other chemical wipes to clean your hearing aid. Disinfectant wipes specifically made for hearing aids may also be used in place of a cloth
• MultiTool – This is one tool, made for hearing aids, that has a brush and a wire loop used for cleaning and removing ear wax. If you don’t have one, a small, soft-bristled toothbrush may be used instead, but make sure the toothbrush is completely clean and dry

Daily Cleaning Tips

Mornings are the best time to clean your hearing aids. Any moisture that has collected on the inside of your device has had time to dry overnight, making any wax or debris easier to remove. While cleaning, make sure to hold the device over a soft surface to avoid any damage if it is dropped:

• Carefully brush away debris from the openings using your MultiTool or toothbrush. Gently brush the surface, making sure to keep the bristles from pressing into each opening
• Gently wipe down the entire hearing aid with a clean, soft, dry cloth

Weekly Cleaning Tips

Once a week, try to spend a bit more time focusing on removing any additional wax and debris:

• Using the wax pick or wire loop from the MultiTool, remove any stubborn wax deposits or debris buildup. DO NOT use the pick/wire loop in any of the delicate microphone or receiver ports
• To clean a larger vent on a custom earmold or hearing aid, run the brush carefully through the opening in each direction

• Inspect the domes and/or wax filters for blockages. If the dome is filled with wax, replace it with a new one

• If the white wax filter at the end of a receiver, ear mold, or in-the-ear hearing aid is clogged with wax, replace the filter. Your Hearing Professional should be able to provide replacement filters
• Wipe down the entire hearing aid gently with a soft, dry cloth

Note: When cleaning your hearing aids, make sure to also inspect and replace the wax filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions when they become clogged.

Contact us if you have any questions about maintaining your hearing aids and your hearing health, so that you can continue to enjoy the sounds of life.